Patient characteristics, outcomes and hospital-level healthcare costs of foreign body ingestion from an Australian, non-prison referral centre

OBJECTIVE: Foreign body ingestion (FBI) occurs infrequently but can be associated with rare risks including perforation. There is limited understanding of the impact of adult FBI in Australia. We aim to evaluate patient characteristics, outcomes and hospital costs of FBI. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of patients with FBI was performed at a non-prison referral centre in Melbourne, Australia. International Classification of Disease-10 coding identified patients with gastrointestinal FBI over financial years 2018–2021. Exclusion criteria were food bolus, medication foreign body, object in anus or rectum, or non-ingestion. Criteria for ‘emergent’ classification were oesophagus, size >6 cm, disc batteries, airway compromise, peritonitis, sepsis and/or suspected viscus perforation. RESULTS: Thirty-two admissions attributed to 26 patients were included. The median age was 36 years (IQR: 27–56), 58% were male and 35% had a prior psychiatric or autism spectrum disorder. There were no deaths, perforations or surgery. Gastroscopy was performed in 16 admissions and 1 was scheduled following discharge. Rat-tooth forceps were used in 31% and an overtube was used in 3 cases. The median time from presentation to gastroscopy was 673 minutes (IQR: 380–1013). Management was adherent to European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines in 81%. After excluding admissions with FBI as a secondary diagnosis, median admission cost was $A1989 (IQR: $A643–$A4976) and total admission costs over the 3 years was $A84 448. CONCLUSION: FBI in an Australian, non-prison referral centre is infrequent, can often be safely managed expectantly, and has limited impact on healthcare utilisation. Early, outpatient endoscopy could be considered for non-urgent cases, which may reduce costs while maintaining safety.